9HO Screen Protectors: 9H Hardness Defined and Tested

January 4, 2018 | By Jolynn Paige

Photodon's highly scratch-resistant oleophobic 9HO screen protective film is a rockstar in Photodon’s film lineup. Not only is it one of the most scratch resistant films available on the market, it is extremely clear, with a glass-like finish. It’s easy to clean, affordable and — unlike tempered glass — it's shatterproof.

But what exactly does 9H mean in terms of scratch resistance?

9H Explained:

There are many ways testing labs will evaluate the hardness of a given material. One common way is to test a surface with minerals of varying degrees of hardness to determine if it will scratch a surface. Another way is to use pencils that are on a hardness scale that ranges from 2H to 9H. The higher the number, the harder the lead.

The most commonly used pencils are 2H on the hardness scale — not very hard. You may notice that if you use much pressure on a #2 pencil tip, the tip will break easily. Many artists will use 9H pencils — the hardest pencil grade available — so their pencils don't break as they draw.

Photodon's 9H Hardness Test:

One way Photodon’s screen protectors were tested was by using pencil hardness methods as set forth by the highly reputable American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International Standards. Photodon’s 9HO film surface was evaluated for its ability to withstand scratches using these graded pencils.

9H Test Results:

When a pencil of 9H hardness, bearing a load of 1.6 pounds, at a 45˚ angle was used on Photodon’s 9HO film in our testing lab, the film was not scratched. These impressive results mean we can offer our customers a solution for protecting their digital equipment from scratches by providing them with our highly-rated 9HO film.

Photodon's Steel Wool Test:

A second round of tests were performed on our 9HO film at our labs which were equally impressive. A ball of steel wool with super fine sharp-edged iron filaments was rubbed in a circular motion 20 times across the surface of a device protected with Photodon's 9HO film. The testers used a load of up to 1.6 lbs in the 9HO experiment — and the film was not scratched!

See for yourself how scratch-resistant this film is:

A scratched screen is one of the most common problems people experience with their electronic devices. Using this type of film will greatly reduce the chances of the screen being scratched at all. If scratches do occur, they appear on the screen protector, and not the screen itself. Extending the life of your expensive digital equipment is not only smart, it is an eco-friendly thing to do.

Please contact our sales department at 847-377-1185, M-F,9-5 EST if you would like more information about 9HO. We are happy to provide you with a quote. 9HO can be custom cut at no additional charge for orders both large and small for screens up to an 82.5-inch diagonal measurement.

Jo Paige is Photodon’s Sales and Communications Director. Over the course of her career, she has been published in several newspapers and local publications and was a writing teacher. Her main goal is to help Photodon provide the best possible products to their customer base.